NHL Watchability Rankings: Oilers and Avs vie for viewers' attention

Visibility is inherently subjective, but there are several things that objectively determine whether an NHL team is worth watching.

Star power is the most obvious factor. Even though hockey is primarily a team sport, one or two game-changing talents can still inspire fans to tune in on a whim, just like they would if they were watching the NBA, NFL or MLB.

A highly motivated offense will draw attention, as will a club that made several impactful signings or trades in the offseason. A team that excels defensively can be eye candy for a certain type of fan, but defensive prowess doesn't have as much appeal as filling the scoresheet.

We've ranked every NHL team over the past few years, but this time we're limiting ourselves to the most exciting half of the league. And remember, these are not rankings or predictions about how teams will actually perform. This is purely about entertainment value.

With that in mind, here are the 16 most-attended teams in the NHL for the 2024-25 season.

The statistics in the charts are from the 2023-24 season
The expected goals and chances to score are five-on-five percentages

16. Washington Capitals

Although the Capitals' offense was poor last season, Alex Ovechkin's efforts to match Wayne Gretzky's all-time scoring record and some smart summer additions will ensure they remain relevant. Ovi is 41 points behind The Great One after burying 31 points in 2023/24. The chase is one of the biggest storylines of the campaign and makes the Caps worth watching, even though they may not be different.

15. Winnipeg Jets

It's the same old story for the Jets. Kyle Connor, Mark Scheifele, Nikolaj Ehlers and Gabriel Vilardi are all worth checking out, but only Ehlers played more than 74 games and VIlardi missed almost half of last season. If they can stay healthy, it will be worth visiting Winnipeg more often in 2024-25.

14. Vegas Golden Knights

The Golden Knights were unconvincing with their performance last season, but also had numerous impact players (Jack Eichel, Mark Stone, Shea Theodore and Tomas Hertl) who were sidelined due to injuries. A healthier Vegas roster would obviously be better and more exciting, even if some of its stars have struggled to avoid the threat of injury in the past.

13. Los Angeles Kings

The Kings were a great possession team last season (albeit mediocre in terms of actual scoring), but they got there by employing the controversial 1-3-1 formation. They're ditching the trap this season, which already makes them more attractive than they ever would have been. Anze Kopitar still has plenty of energy left in the tank and Quinton Byfield looks destined to be a star.

12. New Jersey Devils

The Devils addressed some needs this summer, bringing in capable veteran Jacob Markstrom in goal and steady Brett Pesce in defense. New head coach Sheldon Keefe's system could breathe some life into a team that struggled last season, and the Devils still field players like Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt, Timo Meier and a healthy Dougie Hamilton.

11. Vancouver Canucks

The Canucks had a very entertaining team last season, especially after the signings of Elias Lindholm and Nikita Zadorov. Both players remained in free agency, however, as Vancouver effectively traded them for ex-Bruins Jake DeBrusk and Danton Heinen. That makes the Canucks less entertaining, but they still have Elias Pettersson, JT Miller, Brock Boeser and Norris Trophy winner Quinn Hughes to draw crowds.

10. Boston Bruins

David Pastrnak, Brad Marchand and Charlie McAvoy should continue to make Bruins games worth watching. The addition of Lindholm in free agency also adds to their appeal. It's never wise to discount Boston, but the team's mediocre offense could hurt their long-standing status as one of the NHL's most entertaining teams.

9. New York Rangers

Artemi Panarin and Chris Kreider provide the Rangers with a formidable one-two punch in the offensive zone, while Adam Fox – a former Norris winner and perennial contender – leads the attack from behind at quarterback. New York has struggled to gain possession of the ball and Mika Zibanejad is having a down year. But Alexis Lafreniere finally broke through in 2023-24, and the Rangers still have enough skill to captivate viewers.

8. Nashville Predators

The Predators were already an intriguing team before they made a big splash in the offseason, signing Steven Stamkos and fellow prolific forward Jonathan Marchessault and steady defenseman Brady Skjei. Stamkos and Marchessault have plenty of miles on their odometer, but adding the two 40-goal scorers to a club with Filip Forsberg and Roman Josi means there will be plenty of eyes on Nashville's strengthened roster.

7. Carolina Hurricanes

Much like the Kings, the Hurricanes have long been the darlings of analytics, and last season was no different. The Canes saw some significant moves in free agency, including watching coveted trade acquisition Jake Guentzel pass through. But Carolina's core of Sebastian Aho, Andrei Svechnikov, Seth Jarvis and Martin Necas remains intact.

6. Tampa Bay Lightning

The loss of Stamkos — the Lightning's longtime captain who scored 40 goals and 41 assists last season at age 34 — undoubtedly hurts. But the Lightning replaced him with Guentzel, a two-time 40-goal scorer who turns 30 on Oct. 6. The Bolts' results have started to slip, but they still employ 144-point winger Nikita Kucherov. 90-point center Brayden Point and 76-point defenseman Victor Hedman.

5. Toronto Maple Leafs

Playoff woes aside, the Toronto Maple Leafs remain one of the most watchable teams in the NHL. Auston Matthews is the league's most prolific scorer in a single season since Mario Lemieux, and the Leafs sharpshooter barely cleared the crossbar in the Finals last season (with a league-high 20 shots on goal or off the post or crossbar) and hit 70 last season Goals.

The three-time “Rocket” Richard Trophy winner has a dangerous running mate in William Nylander, who scored back-to-back 40 goals, and while the rest of Toronto's supporting cast has been done poorly to varying degrees, the league's second-ranked offense in 2023-24 has it's still there.

4. Florida Panthers

The reigning champions were among the most ball-possessing teams in 2023-24, and only their opponents in the Stanley Cup Final had more shots on goal in the regular season. The Panthers didn't have much to show in terms of chances converted, but their stars still provide plenty of excitement.

Sam Reinhart finished second in the league with 57 goals, although he scored almost half of them on the power play. Nonetheless, the reinstated Reinhart, Aleksander Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk and the underrated Carter Verhaeghe should keep the Cats entertaining this season.

3. Dallas Stars

The Stars have shaken off their reputation as a dull defensive juggernaut. They have redefined themselves as an elite all-round club with numerous talented players, both young and old. Jason Robertson, Roope Hintz and Wyatt Johnston all scored at least 29 goals last season, and the supporting cast is also deep.

The Western Conference finalists dropped a few points over the summer, but they got Matt Duchene back and still boast an electric top six – even without the departed Joe Pavelski. The Stars' planned third lineup, which includes talented rookies Mavrik Bourque and Logan Stankoven, should also be a blast.

2. Colorado Avalanche

Nathan MacKinnon finally received the accolade he long deserved, taking home the Hart title last season after amassing 140 points. MacKinnon scored 51 goals and Mikko Rantanen (42) was the only other Avalanche player to score more than Valeri Nichushkin's 28 goals. However, Colorado had 10 skaters with at least 10 hits, helping the Central Division squad lead the NHL in scoring.

The Avalanche should be a powerhouse again, led by MacKinnon, Rantanen and Cale Makar. Colorado will be without the suspended Nichushkin until mid-November, and Artturi Lehkonen could need some time after offseason surgery. But this dynamic club should once again be one of the most exciting teams in the NHL.

1. Edmonton Oilers

The Avalanche scored more goals last season, but no team dominated possession or created more chances than the Oilers. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl each scored triple-digit points totals and excelled on their way to the cup final. The latter was ultimately rewarded with a new megadeal.

Edmonton didn't have the MVP in 2023-24, but they still have two perennial Hart-caliber superstars who have taken home that hardware before – not to mention 54-goal man Zach Hyman. The Oilers also added proven scorers Jeff Skinner and Viktor Arvidsson to their arsenal. This should increase their scoring chances and further establish them as the most enticing team in the league.